Asia-Europe rates fall after 3 successive increases

Freight rates on the East-West trades declined in February following three consecutive months of price rises, according to Drewry’s online “Container Freight Rate Insight.”

Rates came under most pressure on the Asia-Europe trade, which weakened following a meteoric rise in the run-up to the Chinese New Year.

Drewry’s Asia-Europe Westbound Freight Rate Index dropped 12 percent in February to US$2,992 per 40-foot container, while weekly data from the World Container Index assessed by Drewry indicates that the pricing erosion has continued into March.

Spot rates on the trans-Pacific shed some gains as well with Drewry’s Transpacific Eastbound Freight Rate Index easing 3 percent over January to $2,669 per 40-foot unit.

As a consequence, Drewry’s East-West Freight Rate Index, a weighted average of spot rates across the trans-Pacific, trans-Atlantic, and Asia-Europe/Med trades, dropped 8 percent in February to average $2,255 per 40 foot.

“The GRIs lined up on both the Asia-Europe and the trans-Pacific trades will struggle to lift rates to sustainable levels unless carriers take drastic measures to tighten capacity while accommodating the ultra-large vessels scheduled to join these trades this year,” said Simon Heaney, senior manager of supply chain research at Drewry.

“Deliveries of new ultra-large ships will only add to the existing overcapacity and lead to more cascading, putting rates under further pressure. The policy of skipped sailings and frequent GRIs can be expected to continue, but any gains from these tactics will only bring temporary relief to carriers,” he added.